Biblical Evidence for a Middle Eastern Antichrist

The origin of the Antichrist is a hotly debated topic within Christianity. The most common belief is that the Antichrist will come from a revived Roman Empire. However, there is abundant biblical evidence that the Antichrist will come from the Middle East, specifically the modern nation of Turkey. I have already written a ten-part series on this topic. This article is a short summary of the arguments presented in that series. I have included links to that series below.

Passages that point to a Middle Eastern origin for the Antichrist

The book of Daniel, contrary to common belief, tells us that the Antichrist will come from the Middle East and not Europe as most think.

Daniel 2 records for us King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The dream was of a large statue that was divided into five different parts (2:31-35): a) a head of gold; b) chest and arms made of silver; c) belly and thighs of bronze; d) legs of iron; and e) feet and toes mixed with clay and iron. It is during the time of the feet and toes that Christ returns to set up his kingdom (2:44).The first three sections (gold, silver, and bronze) are the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Greek Empires. The iron and mixed sections are usually thought to be Rome and a revived Roman Empire. However, there is a major problem with this interpretation. Daniel 2:40 says that the iron kingdom will destroy the first three. Rome never conquered the Persian Empire and a good portion of the lands ruled by Greece. The only empire in history that did this was the Islamic Caliphate (632-1924 AD).

Daniel 7 is one of the most well-known chapters in the Bible concerning the end-times. It parallels Daniel 2 as it gives us four beasts (Lion, Bear, Leopard, and a terrifying Beast) that correspond to Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the final Beast with iron claws. This final beast has ten horns which correspond to the fifth section (feet and toes) of the statue. The fourth beast of chapter 7 is the same as the fourth and fifth sections of the statue in chapter 2.

Daniel 8 and 11 also place the origins of the Antichrist in the Middle East, specifically the Empire of the Seleucids. The main lands of the Seleucids were Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria (although it did include other lands earlier in its history). Daniel 8:9-13; 23-25 give us details about the Antichrist and 8:17, 19 specifically tell us that the vision has its primary fulfillment at “the time of the end,” “the time of wrath,” and “the appointed time of the end.” 11:36-45 identifies the Antichrist as “the King of the North” which in this context was the region of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.

Revelation 13 records that the Beast/Antichrist is a composite of the first three beasts of Daniel 7 (13:1-2). Similar characteristics that we are told about the Antichrist in Daniel 7, 8, and 11 are given in Revelation 13:1-8. It is not unreasonable to conclude that the Beast in Revelation 13 is the same as the fourth and final beast in Daniel 7 and the final two sections of the statue of Daniel 2.

Revelation 17 gives us a vision of a woman that is riding on the Beast of Revelation 13. The Beast’s seven heads, which were first introduced in Revelation 13:1, are now identified as kingdoms (17:9-11). Five of them had already fallen by the time John had lived (usually identified as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece), while the sixth (Rome), was in existence at the time. The seventh was to come later. The Beast/Antichrist is an eighth kingdom and it is a rebirth of the seventh (13:3; 17:11). Identifying the seventh kingdom will allow us to understand where the Antichrist will come from. As I noted earlier, the book of Daniel tells us that the kingdom of the Antichrist will emerge after the Greek Empire (the fifth kingdom), but that it cannot be Rome for reasons that I explained above and in another article (who is the sixth here). Thus, the kingdom of the Antichrist must come after Rome. The only empire to emerge after Rome and have any relationship with the Holy Land (a commonality of the first six kingdoms) was the Islamic Caliphate, which conforms well to what we know about the Antichrist from Daniel.

It is in Ezekiel 38 and 39 that we are told that the Antichrist will come out of Turkey. The following evidence summarizes what I write about in another article: a) God refers to Gog in a way that only makes sense if Gog is the Antichrist (38:17; 39:8); b) there are many parallels between Gog’s battle and Armageddon (see my article on Gog for all the different Scriptures); c) both Gog and the Antichrist use peace as a way to wage war (Daniel 8:25; 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Ezekiel 38:12-13); d) there are many details given about the aftermath of Gog’s battle that will only occur at the second coming of Christ. These include God’s name no longer being blasphemed (38:23; 39:7), the non-Jewish nations coming to know the Lord (38:23; 39:6-7), the Jews dwelling in their land safely forever (39:26), God pouring out his spirit upon Israel (38:29), and Ezekiel telling us that the Lord will actually be present at the defeat of Gog (39:29).

Ezekiel 38:2-6 teaches us that Gog is of Magog and is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. It is also said that Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah fight with Gog. Persia, Cush, and Put are the easiest to identify as they are Iran, Sudan, and Libya respectively. However, the other five nations have been misidentified. Magog, Meshech, and Tubal are usually said to be Russia, but an in-depth study of these nations shows that they were areas in what is today Turkey. Gomer and Beth Togarmah were also in Turkey.

(As a side note, I have also written articles covering the two most popular arguments against a Middle Eastern Antichrist: Daniel 9:26 and 2 Thessalonians 2.)

Conclusion

The Antichrist will not emerge from Europe; he will come from the Middle East. Daniel 2, 8, 11, and Ezekiel 38-39 are the chapters in Scripture that specifically point to this. Sadly, most Christians are completely unaware and are still looking at the European Union for any sign of the man of lawlessness.

Nick

“And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.”

~Daniel 9:26

The people who destroyed the city and the sanctuary were the Romans. Titus Vespasian accomplished this in response to the Jewish rebellion in 70AD. This prophecy ties the “people of the prince who is to come” (antichrist), with those who destroyed the temple (Romans).

The antichrist will be from the revived Roman empire, not the Middle East–though the Middle East will play a role in the end.

1)The problem with chp 9 of Daniel is that everywhere you see the word ‘he’ it is a reference backwards to chp 8. Read chp 9 from this viewpoint and you will see that Gabriel is come to give understanding of “the vision” in chp 8 that made Daniel sick with confusion. In Daniel chapter 8 the terms “little horn” and “king of fierce countenance” and “he” is Satan’s Antichrist.
2)In Daniel 9 the term “he” of verse 27 is a reference back to the “he” found at the end of Daniel’s vision in chapter 8, verses 23-25, of Satan’s AntiChrist. This one verse (Dan 9:27) inserted at the end of chapter 9, is to “build
understanding” of Daniel’s vision found in the previous chapter. Chp 9 is not a vision, but a discourse on 70 weeks and is called “the matter.”
3) We must learn of the relationship and transition from chp 8 to 9! In my book TABDOC:
*[4.5.2) The Vision and Prophecy: What is the vision and prophecy, referred to several times throughout the
book of Daniel? The book of Daniel has a common theme of vision and prophecy in chapters 2, 7, 8, and 10 through 12, thus “seal the book”. However, “the vision” of chapter 8 was added upon and expounded in chapters 10 through 12. Each repetition of the same information brings a little more understanding of the end time drama to unfold in the last days, which happens just before the Second Coming of the Lord. We must start in chapter eight, where Daniel mentions having a vision. Notice chapter 7, like chapter 2 is a dream of visions. Daniel was sleeping, and like king Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel had visions in his dream. Daniel
explained to king Nebuchadnezzar: But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to
the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy
bed, are these (Daniel 2:28) One dream of many visions. Daniel tells us of his dream of visions: In the first
year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote
the dream, and told the sum of the matters. (Daniel 7:1) Daniel later calls these “visions of his head” other
names like: “my vision by night” and “the night visions” and “the visions of my head.”
The vision, in Daniel chapter 8; the Prophet is awake while having his vision as one long vision. Daniel starts out by saying in Daniel 8: 1 “…a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel” Then midway through chapter 8, Daniel is seized with fear and faints into a deep sleep, but Gabriel awakens Daniel: “16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my
face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright” (Daniel 8:16-18). After the vision, Daniel fainted again from exhaustion, which made him sick in bed for a few days: Daniel 8: 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
In Daniel chapter 9, Daniel was praying about the prophecy, “seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem”
that was prophesied by Jeremiah the prophet, which prophecy was not a vision. Daniel was also praying for
the blessings of God’s people to come to pass. Gabriel comes to Daniel again as he did in chapter 8, to
further explain and build understanding upon “the vision” in chapter 8 of end time events. Chapter 9 is NOT a vision, but is labeled as, or called as, “the matter” by Gabriel. The reason for “the matter” of the 70 week prophecy explanation is to build “skill” and “understanding” of a previous vision: 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy
supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved:
therefore understand the matter (in chp 9) , and consider the vision (in chp 8) (Daniel 9:21-23).
Did you notice, Gabriel talks about two things to bear in mind and to think about: (1)-“the matter” of the 70
week prophecy in Daniel chapter 9, and (2)-“the vision” of chapter 8? Daniel’s vision in chapter 8 adds
information upon the dream of chapter 7: Daniel 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision
appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. The “dream and
visions of his head” in chapter 7 was Daniel’s first, and is about the four beasts (kingdoms) that come up out
of the abyss; and of the little horn (small kingdom with a powerful voice), rising up in power and coming up
among the 10 Nations. Chapter 7 covers the same theme of earthly kingdoms being subdued by
Christ and given to the Saints as chapter 2 – chapters 2 and 7 parallel so closely. Chapter 8 information
explains more on two of those four beasts in chapter 7. And chapter 8 also further explains on the “little
horn” as one who comes out of one of the four horns of the Grecian Empire.]*

Paulatics

Could it be the Ottoman empire? Could Islam in of itself be THE ANTICHRIST and not a person – Allah is the Great Deceiver. To Christians – Satan is the Great Deceiver. Please let me know your thoughts.

Concerning the thought that Islam itself is the Antichrist – I once believed that idea. But there are many details in Daniel 7, 8, 11, and Ezekiel 38-39 that point to an individual and just an empire. The beast in Revelation 13 and 17 also parallels many of the same details in the book of Daniel (which I just noted point to an individual).